Cloth-folding machine.



C. A. STEWART;

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY!3. 19l2.

Patented A101, 13, 1915.

2 SHEETEr-SHBET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTC-LITHO. WASHINGTUNJD. C4

C. A. STEWART.

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuL'YI3. 191.2.

m a P\ QM U W w 3 I I IIIHIII I M W I w 2 WWI .M I

5 Em *dlafi III wm w w THO" WASHINGTON. D. c.

CHARLES A. STEWART, OF RGLLINSFOED, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed July 13, 1912.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CriARLns A. STEWART, of Rollinsford, in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cloth-Folding Machines, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to a cloth folding apparatus or machine and one especially adapted for making that type of fold in which the cloth is folded reversely back and forth upon itself.

The essential object of my invention is to provide an apparatus or machine by which the cloth may be folded quickly and evenly and with folds all of substantially the same length.

It is the further object of my invention to provide as simple a machine as possible; also, one which can be operated by unskilled labor and one which operates to hold the cloth taut during the folding operation.

My invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the machine in plan. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents the fabric as folded by my machine.

Referring to the drawings :-1 represents a table forming the bed of the machine and upon which the cloth is folded. This table is of considerable length depending upon the length of the fold desired tobe obtained.

Arranged to run lengthwise over the table is a carrier 2. This carrier consists simply of a rectangular frame the body of which is elevated some distance above the face of the table and arranged to run lengthwise over the same by straps or supporting bars 3 which are secured to the sides of the carrier and bear at their lower ends flanged wheels 4 which run on tracks 5 secured to the legs or standards 6 supporting the table. I prefer this arrangement in order that the face of the table may be left clear.

The carrier 2 is provided with down- Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Seria11\1'0.709,138.

wardly and forwardly-projecting arms 8 having forwardly-turned ends 9. These arms are spaced arms, parallelly arranged to lie some distance above the face of the table and are secured to brackets 10 fixed to the head of the carrier. The turned ends 9 of the arms 7 are adapted to hold any one of a number of rods 11 which are employed in the operation of the machine, as will later be explained. The adaptation of these arms in this particular is such that any of the rods 11 may be laid transversely of the table to rest loosely in the turned ends 9 of the respective arms or so that they may be easily dislodged therefrom by the application of force to the rear side thereof or held securely by the arms against displacement upon the application of force to the rod on the forward side thereof.

Secured to the table forward of the carrier are separate sets of spaced posts 12, 12 and 13, 13, respectively. These posts are rectangularly arranged, the posts of each set being parallelly disposed on opposite sides of the table and separated from one another a distance about equal to the width of the cloth to be folded. The respective sets of posts are separated from one another longitudinally the table a distance about equal to the length of the fold desired to be obtained.

Tn height or vertical extension each of the posts 12, 12 and 13, 13 is less than the distance separating the face of the table from the body of the carrier in order that the carrier may pass over and not engage the posts as it is moved over the table. The posts are of such height and construction, however, that as the carrier passes over the table the rod 11 carried by the arms 8 of the carrier will engage the posts and ride over the same without dislodgment as the carrier is moved forward, or, as the carrier is reversely moved the rod 11 will engage the posts and become dislodged from the arms to fall forward of the posts. The posts have accordingly a height greater than the distance separating the face of the table from the turned ends 9 of the arms and rod 11 carried thereby. In order that the rod 11 carried by the arms may be lifted to ride over the posts during the forward movement of the carrier each of the posts is provided with a backwardly and downwardly-inclined wing portionor edge 15;

Just forward of the respective posts 12, 12 and adjacent thereto are arranged other posts 16, 16, respectively, adapted to form with the posts 12, 12 a housing for the rod 11 as they may be dislodged from the arms of the carrier to fall forward ofthe posts 12, 12 upon a reverse or return movement of the carrier as aforesaid. These posts 16, 16 are relatively short posts or less in height than the distance between the face of the table and the turned ends of the arms 8 and rod 11 carried thereby, in order that this red may not engage them as the carrier is moved backward over the table.

Forward of the posts 13, 13 is arranged a stop for the carrier or means for preventing its undue forward movement after the rod 11 carried thereby has passed these posts. This stop preferably takes the form of separate posts '17, 17 arranged respectively just forward of the respective posts 13. The posts 17, 17 are of some considerable height or of such height that after the rod borne by the carrier has passed over the posts 13 upon the forward movement of the carrier it will engage the posts 17 which accordingly prevent further movement of the carrier.

18 represents the cloth or fabric to be folded. This is arranged upon a roll (not shown) which lies above the table 1 and back of the carrier when in a retracted position.

In order that the forward end of the cloth may be secured or held preliminary to the folding operation, sets of posts 19, 20, respectively, are arranged just forward of the posts 16 to form a housing forholding two of the rods 11 placed transversely the table, one above the other, and between which the endof the cloth is placed.

The folding operation is as follows :It will be assumedthat the carrier is in a retracted position or that indicated in the drawing. The end of the cloth is then brought forward from the roll and passed between the body of the carrier ,andthe table, thence upwardly over the rod 11 supported in the arms 8 of the carrier, thence downwardly between the posts 12, 12; 16, 16 and forward between the posts 19, 19; 20, 20 where the forward end of the cloth is held by the rods as aforesaid. A rod 11 is then placed over the cloth in the housing between the sets of posts 12, 12; 16, 16. The carrier is then moved forward. As the carrier moves forward it will pass over the posts 12, 12, the rod 11 borne by the arms of the carrier engaging the inclined portions 15 of these posts by which the rod will be lifted to pass over the same without displacement from the arms 8. The forward movement of the carrier is then continued drawing the cloth along with it and making a fold therein. When the rod 11 carried by the arms I meets the posts 13 it will ride over these posts without displacement from the arms by reason of the inclined portions 15 of these posts. The forward movement of the carrier continues until stopped by the posts 17. A fold will then have been formed in the cloth extending between the posts 12, 12 and 13, 13 and just beyond the latter posts. The carrier is now reversed. As it moves backward the rod 11 carried by its arms will engage the posts 13 and will thereby be thrown out of the arms 8 to fall forward of these posts and be held thereby for holding the fold formed in the cloth. Another rod 11 is then placed over the cloth in the turned ends of the arms of the carrier, talcing the place of that cast out, and as the carrier is moved back over the table and fold formed in the cloth this rod will engage the posts 12, 12 and become dislodged from the arms to lie upon the cloth. forward of these posts. Another rod is then placed beneath the cloth in the turned ends 9 of the arms and the carrier again moved forward for forming a new fold in the cloth, which is then held by the rod 11 last thrown from the arms which bears against the posts 16. As the carrier moves forward the rod last placed in its arms will successively pass over the posts 12, 12; 16, 16 and 13, 13, and become displaced forward of the posts 13, 13 upon a reverse movement of the carrier for holding the fold the same as before. The operation is then repeated until the entire web of cloth has been folded, the carrier being moved back and forth and the rods being placed in its arms as the folds are successively formed. After a number of folds have been formed the rods 11 holding the under ones of the folds may be drawn out and used again as the folds in the cloth will be held firmly by the remaining rods.

Referring to that rod which is placed over the cloth within the housing formed by the arms 12, 12; 16, 16 and which as described above is there deposited by placing the rod in the turned ends of the carrier during the reverse movement thereof to be come dislodged by contact with the post 12, it may sometimes be more convenient to manually place one of the rods 11 within the housing over the cloth especially if the operator is standing at this point. If, however, he is standing at the forward end of the machine then it is more convenient to place the rod in the carrier to be carried back by it and dislodged as first described.

The action of the carrier and rod carried by it will tend to keep the cloth drawn taut in forming the several folds and the folds will be evenly formed by the lateral retention of the posts 12, 12 and 13, 13 acting to guide the cloth as it is successively carried back and forth between the sets of posts.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table, said carrier being adapted in part to loosely carry any one of a number of rods, a set of posts over which said carrieris adapted to pass, said posts presenting parts engaged by the rods carried by said carrier whereby said rods may be lifted to ride over said posts as said carrier is moved in one direction or said rods engage said posts and become displaced from said carrier to fall alongside said posts as said carrier is moved in a reverse direction.

2. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table, said carrier being adapted in part to loosely carry any one of a number of rods, separate sets of posts arranged forward of said carrier when in a retracted position and over which said carrier is adapted to pass, said posts being constructed and arranged to the end that as said carrier passes forward over the'same from a retracted position the rod carried thereby will become liftedby said posts to pass over the same or said rod engage said posts and become dislodged from said carrier to fall alongside said posts as the carrier is moved in a reverse direction, and means for holding the rod dislodged from said carrier to fall alongside that set of posts nearest said carrier when in a retracted position.

3. In a folding machine, the combination with a table and sets of spaced posts there on, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, said carrier being adapted in part to loosely carry any one of a number of rods to lie in a position on said carrier below the tops of said posts, said posts having associated therewith means for lifting the rod borne by the carrier whereby it may ride over said posts as said carrier is moved in one direction and said rod engage said posts and become displaced from said car rier to fall alongside said posts as said carrier is moved in a reverse direction.

4:. In a folding machine, the combination with a table and sets of spaced posts, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table, said carrier being provided at the forward end thereof with forwardly and downwardly-projecting arms with turned ends adapted to receive and loosely bear a rod laid therein transverse said table, said rod lying in a position below the tops of said posts, said posts having associated therewith means for lifting the rod borne by the carrier whereby it may ride over said posts as said carrier is moved in one direction and said rod engage said posts and become displaced from said carrier to fall alongside said posts as said carrier is moved. in a reverse direction.

5. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, releasable means borne by said carrier adapted to carry the material to be folded and make a fold therein as said carrier is moved in one direction or become released from said carrier and hold said fold at the end thereof.

6. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a releasable rod borne by said carrier adapted to carry the material to be folded and make a fold therein as said carrier is moved in one direction, and means whereby said rod may be automatically released from said carrier to hold said fold at the end thereof.

7. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a set of posts, a rod borne by said carrier and arranged where by a fold may be formed by said rod and carried thereby beyond said set of posts, said rod being releasably supported by said carrier whereby it may be detached therefrom to lie forward of said posts within the fold formed thereby as aforesaid.

8. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a set of posts, a rod borne by said carrier and arranged whereby a fold of material may be formed by said rod and carried thereby beyond said set of posts, said rod being releasably supported by said carrier whereby it may be detached therefrom to lie forward of said posts within the fold formed thereby, and means for holding the material preparatory to forming another fold therein as aforesaid.

9. In a folding machine, the combination with a folding table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a rod borne by said carrier and arranged whereby a fold may be formed and carried by said rod upon forward movement of said carrier, and means for automatically releasing said rod from said carrier and for holding said rod at the end of the fold.

10. In a folding machine, the combination with a folding table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a rod borne by said carrier and arranged whereby a fold of material may be formed and'carried by said rod upon forward movement of said carrier, means for automatically releasing said rod from said carrier and for holding said rod at the end of the fold, and means for holding the material preparatory to forming another fold therein as aforesaid.

11. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a releasable rod borne by said carrier adapted to carry the material to be folded and make a fold therein as said carrier is moved in one direction, fold-retaining posts and associated parts by which said rod may ride over said posts during the making of the fold and upon a reverse movement of said carrier be automatically released to fall alongside said posts for retaining the fold.

12. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table with a forward and reverse movement, a releasable rod borne by said carrier over which the material to be folded extends and by which rod the material is carried and folded as the carrier is moved in one direction, a stop for the carrier at the end of the fold, fold-retaining posts and parts associated therewith by which said rod may be lifted to ride over said posts as the carrier is moved for making the fold and upon a reverse movement of said carrier be automatically released by said posts to fall alongside the same for retaining the fold, and means for retaining the material to be folded preliminary to making another fold.

13. In a folding machine, the combination with a table, of a carrier mounted to run lengthwise over and above said table, a releasable rod borne by said carrier and over which the material to be folded extends whereby said rod may carry the same and make a fold therein as the carrier is moved forward over the table, separate sets of spaced posts arranged forward of the carrier when in a retracted position and over which said carrier is adapted to pass, said sets of posts each having parts associated therewith whereby said rod may be lifted to pass over said posts during the making of the fold upon the forward movement of the carrier and upon a reverse movement of said carrier be automatically released by the outermost set of posts to fall alongside the same at the end of the fold for retaining the fold, a stop for the carrier at the end of the fold, and other rod-retaining posts arranged just forward of that set of posts nearest the carrier when in a retract ed position.

CHARLES A. STEIVART.

Witnesses M. D. NEWMAN, H. E. FLAI-IERTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtainer l'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. O. 

